Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleagues, I thank the Minister, her officials who are present and those who are not here for their work on this Bill. I thank all of the groups that have engaged in this process. In particular, I pay tribute to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which did a significant amount of work on the Bill. It took submissions, had oral hearings, went to Sweden to look at the model that exists there and made significant recommendations to the Minister. I commend the Minister for being open-minded in her deliberations and on the development of the legislation. I also pay tribute to the Members on the other side of the House - those in Fianna Fáil, the Independents and Sinn Féin - for their significant engagement in this process. This legislation will protect women and it will criminalise the people who should be criminalised. It is a very significant Bill with provisions that have been tried and tested in other jurisdictions. I also thank the Leader of the House, Senator Cummins, for his support and co-operation, and that of his office as well.